

The Hot Spot Studios is a vibrant "paint your own pottery" franchise that blends creativity, community, and entrepreneurship. Founded in 1996 by Olivia Parsons Franks, the concept began as a single studio on the West Coast.
In 2023, Franks partnered with Lorraine Kitsos to expand the brand through franchising. The franchise is now headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, with 13 studio locations across the U.S., including states like North Carolina, Texas, Nevada, and Michigan.
The Hot Spot Studios stands out by offering more than just pottery painting. Guests can also enjoy canvas painting, candle making, mosaics, succulent gardens, and slime crafting.
This diverse range of DIY projects makes the studio appealing to all age groups and skill levels. Unlike many competitors, The Hot Spot charges no studio or paint fees, and most items can be completed and taken home the same day.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
The Hot Spot franchise provides comprehensive training programs to ensure franchisees are well-prepared to operate their business. Below is a breakdown of the training programs provided by the Franchisor:
The Hot Spot franchise provides its franchisees with exclusive territorial protection under the Franchise Agreement. Each franchisee is granted a defined territory, which is typically based on geographic and demographic factors like population and income levels.
During the term of the agreement, and provided the franchisee is not in default, the Franchisor agrees not to open or allow any other The Hot Spot studios to open within that territory.
Additionally, the franchisee is guaranteed that The Hot Spot will not sell its products or services within the assigned territory through other studios or alternative distribution channels.
Below are some of
The Hot Spot
key competitors in the
Other Recreation
sector.

0
$37,500
$75,000
$158,000
n.a.
$400,000
$xxx,xxx
80.6%
n.a.
20.4%
n.a.

Cork & Candles is an experiential retail franchise offering guided custom candle-making with drinks and events, serving social groups, date nights, and corporate outings, and known for immersive scent bars, Instagram-ready studios, and highly repeatable, workshop-driven revenue.
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Social Play Haus is a family-focused hospitality franchise offering a café, bar, and indoor play spaces, serving parents with young children, and known for drinks, kid-friendly menus, birthday parties, and flexible zones where adults relax or work while kids explore.
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Sheenco Travel is a travel-services franchise offering bespoke luxury itineraries to Ireland, the UK, and nearby destinations, serving affluent leisure travelers, and known for castle stays, private-driver tours, and highly personalized planning that emphasizes memorable, relationship-driven experiences over standardized packages.
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Trolley Pub, Trolley Party, Paddle Pub and Tiki Pub is a mobile entertainment tour franchise offering pedal-powered party bikes and boats, serving social groups and tourists, and known for BYOB experiences, scenic routes, and celebratory outings on streets and waterways.
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Animal World is a children's indoor-play franchise offering themed playgrounds, inflatables, and birthday-party packages, serving families with young kids, and known for its animal-themed equipment, multiple revenue streams, and affordable, flexible franchise model tailored to local communities.
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Bud’s Place is a lounge-franchise offering social-consumption cannabis lounges with food, beverages and entertainment, serving adults in regulated markets, and known for upscale ambiance, multiple revenue streams, and emerging industry positioning.
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